Alstroemeria plant named Lorena

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named Lorena, particularly characterized by its low maintenance; early December flowering through photoperiodic control, good post-harvest color retention, and by its flowers which have dark pink cheeks with a white background, dark purple streaking on the upper and lower petals and along the edges of the sepals, and patches of yellow on the two upper plates.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Lorena.

Lorena is a product of a planned breeding program which had the primaryobjectives of creating new Alstroemeria cultivars having unique flowercolor and being capable of early winter production with low maintenancerequirements. The latter term refers to the production of a minimum ofnon-flowering stems.

In order to fully understand an important characteristic of the newcultivar, an explanation of typical current winter production schedulesfor cut flowers of Alstroemerias would be helpful. Standard industrygrowing practices normally utilize only natural daylight. As a result,late fall and winter production of Alstroemeria cut flowers, due toreduced levels of light during these periods, typically requires 12weeks or more of growing time from the planting of the rhizome cuttingto the initiation of flowering. Even more time is required for furtherflowering to produce a stem ready for sale. With certain varieties, theperiod of time from planting to flowering can extend up to almost sixmonths. This time will substantially vary from variety to variety, andgrowing techniques and conditions also affect the growing period. Forexample, a larger cutting will obviously require a shorter growing timethan a relatively small cutting. High temperatures normally have anadverse affect on growth, as does reduced light.

The commercial implications of relatively slow growth characteristicsunder natural light conditions should be obvious. Increased bench orfield time (if grown outdoors where climates permit) substantiallyincreases production costs, which in turn result in increased costs perstem due to the increased cost of production. Total production ofAlstroemeria cut flowers during such period is also correspondinglyless. This adversely affects the normal supply/demand ratio to themarketplace, and as a result cut flowers of Alstroemeria aresubstantially more costly during the winter months than during theperiods beginning in March when production increases. It is not unusualfor stem prices to be 50% higher during the winter months of December,January, and February.

The inventor has discovered that through photoperiodic growth practices,certain cultivars can be brought into flowering in the late fall andwinter periods in substantially reduced periods of time, therebyincreasing production during these periods. However, all cultivars arenot adaptable to photoperiodic control.

Through extensive breeding, the inventor has been able to produce newAlstroemeria cultivars, of which Lorena is one, specifically adaptableto photoperiodic control. The inventor's preferred growing techniqueincludes growing the newly stuck plants under natural light conditionsfor approximately one month without light supplement. Afterapproximately one month, the day length is effectively increased byproviding four hours of artificial lighting by techniques or methodswell known in the industry.

A preferred growing regimen which has provided excellent resultscomprises planting established rhizome divisions in ground beds near theend of August or first of September. Beginning approximately one monthafter planting, and continuing to April 1, the plants are subjected tolight from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily. A lighting system which hasproved highly effective consists of 135 watt bulbs spaced every 10 feet,and hung approximately 7 feet above the ground. The rhizome divisionsare positioned in rows that are spaced 12 feet apart.

By effectively increasing the day length by means of artificiallighting, flowering can be initiated in a much shorter time. Withinapproximately six (6) weeks the first flower appears, and saleablesteams are ready from mid-November to mid-Decemeber, depending upon thevariety. In many instances, flowering is essentially continuous untilJune when the stems are too short to sell as cuts without heavy shadingand some method of cooling. Without shading and cooling to prolongcommercial stem production, it is common practice to dig up and dividethe plants. The divided plants are then stuck in late August or earlySeptember as described, and the cycle repeated. It has also been notedthat the increased light regimen has resulted in longer stems, a verydesirable quality.

Lorena was originated by the inventor Erwin Mojonnier from ahybridization made in a controlled breeding program in Encintas, Calif.in 1988. The female parent was a cultivar identified as 305, a tallplant with a pink cheek against a white background, heavily streaked onupper and lower petals and with a yellow patch on the upper petals. Themale parent was a cultivar identified as L4, a tall plant with a redflower, streaking on the upper and lower petals, and with a yellow patchon the upper petals.

Lorena was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the state parentage by the inventor in May, 1988 in acontrolled environment in Encinitas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Lorena was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken by the inventor from the initialselection in August, 1988, in a controlled environment in Encinitas,Calif. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated in 1989 hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Lorena are firmly fixed and retained through successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

Lorena has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Encinitas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Lorena, which in combination distinguishthis Alstroemeria as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Low maintenance, with a low number of non-flowering stems producedper plant.

2. Winter production beginning in December due to adaptability ofcultivar to specified photoperiodic control regimens.

3. Lorean is easily propagated.

4. Possesses good post-harvest color retention.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows in a top perspectivecloseup view typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics ofLorena, with colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrationsof this type. As depicted in the closeup photograph, Lorena possesses adark pink cheek, with white in the background. Prominent streaking isfound on the upper and lower petals and streaking is also evident alongthe edges of the sepals. Yellow patches are found on the two upperpetals.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). The color values weredetermined between 7:00 and 7:45 a.m. on May 11, 1990, under 100 footcandles of light intensity at Encinitas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Alstroemeria cv Lorena.

Commercial.--Alstroemeria.

PLANT

Form: Cut flower.

Height: Approximately 123 cm. at time of harvest.

Propagation: Originates from rhizome.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Approximately 23 leaves per stem.

Size of leaf.--Approximately 16.8 cm.×2.8 cm.

Shape of leaf.--Lanceolate.

Color.--Upper side, green 137A; under side green 137C.

Rhizomes:

Color.--White, 155B.

Size.--Approximately 1 cm.×1 cm. at growing tip.

INFLORESCENCE

Bud:

Form.--Indeterminate.

Diameter.--1.5 cm.

Length.--4.2 cm.

Calyx.--4 mm.

Peduncle.--2.5 cm. in length.

Color.--Green, 138B.

Flower:

Size.--6.3 cm. in diameter.

Borne.--3-5 flowers per umbel.

Blooming habit.--Early; begins flowering in December.

Shape.--Asymmetrical.

Color:

Upper surface.--Cheek red-purple 63C; Outer red-purple 63A.

Under surface.--Cheek red-purple 63A; Outer red-purple 63C.

Other notations.--Streaking approximately 187A in color is prominentalong the edges of the three sepals and also on the three petals. Ayellow patch 4B in color is found in the mid-section of the upper twopetals.

Peduncle: Length, 4.4 cm.; color, green 138B.

Lasting quality: Good, approximately 14 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: Number, 6.

Anthers: Color, gray-brown 199C.

Filaments: Color, red-purple 63C.

Pistils: Number, 1; color red-purple 63C.

Stigma: Color, red-purple 63C.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant namedLorena, as illustrated and described.